Will of Andrew Smith 1811

Andrew Smith's Last Will & Testament as recorded in Baltimore County, Dated 16 June 1811, Proved 27 July 1811

In the Name of God, Amen. I, Andrew Smith of Baltimore County and State of Maryland, being weak in body but of sound mind and memory do make this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking and disavowing all other wills by me heretofore made in manner and do form. Following to Wit, First I will and bequeath unto my loving wife Elisabeth Smith all that Tract or parcel of Land called and known by the name of Prague, together with all my personal property and Debts due to me by Bonds or otherwise during her natural life. ? after her decease my will and desire is that the land and personal property be sold at publick gate and the amount thereof be equally divided amongst my ten children at her Death. To Wit, John, William, Christopher, Thomas, Elisabeth, George, Daniel, Sarah, Ellenor, and Mary and my further Will and Desire is that my four negroe Children should be free at the age of thirty years. To Wit Nicholas, John, Mariah and ?. Nicholas born February 10 1805, John born September 19 1807, Mariah born June 19 1809, and Alvira (?) born April 2nd 1810. Lastly, I hereby nominate, constitute, and appoint my son Thomas Smith my sole Executor to this my last Will and Testament. As witness my hand and mark this seventeenth day of June One Thousand Eight Hundred and Eleven.

Andrew Smith's mark and county seal

Signed Sealed pronounced and Declared by the Testator to be his last Will and Testament in whose presence and at his request we have signed our names as Witnesses thereto and in the presence of each other.
William Wheeler,
Abraham Ensor, and
William Brooks

Baltimore County to Wit. On the 27th day of July 1811 came William Wheeler, Abraham Ensor, & William Brooks subscribing Evidence to the aforegoing last Will and Testament of Andrew Smith late of said County deceased, and made oath on the Holy Evangely of Almighty God that they did see the Testator sign and make this Will, that they heard him publish pronounce and declare the same to be his last Will and Testament, that at the time of his so doing he was to the best of their apprehensions of sound disposing mind memory and understanding and that they subscribed their names as Witness to his mark in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other. Sworn to in open court.

Contributed by Neil Smith
Note: Andrew was also known as Andreas Schmidt, his gravemarker and that of his wife existed at one time in an Orchard belonging to a Mr. Chilcoat on Andrew's homestead near Belfast in Baltimore County.